Police step up crackdown on criminals

Abuja residents are not unfamiliar with activities of criminals who usually hide at strategic locations from where they rob their victims. When any year draws to a close, there is always the feeling of fear on the part of the residents because of increase in crime rate.

During the “ember months”, especially December, residents become more vigilant. During this period, cars, money, phones, laptops, Ipad, properties, motorbikes are stolen and petty thieves also wait for home owners to leave their homes before they break in and cart away whatever they feel can fetch them money.

Worried by this development, the Commissioner of Police of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Wilson Inalegwu said the command has intensified action on the activities of the criminals, which has led to several arrests of the criminals in their different hideouts.

With this development, residents can now heave a sigh of relief because of efforts made by the police to make Abuja crime-free.

The suspects who were arrested for different crimes are expected to be arraigned in court soon since investigation has been concluded.

The recent cases are familiar ones but the suspected criminals who admitted to carrying out the act blamed the devil for it.

One of the suspected criminals, ThankGod Okhiria specializes in telecommunication fraud. He sends messages to unsuspecting members of the public notifying them that they have won certain amount of money and that they should follow certain requirement to claim their prizes.

The police chief said: “Following a report on Berekete Family Radio that a lady was defrauded by a syndicate in March this after she was contacted via phone that she had won the sum of N700, 000 from an ongoing promo, the Commissioner of Police ordered immediate investigation into the case. As a result of discreet investigation, the suspect was traced and arrested at Edo where he carries out his nefarious activities.

“The victim paid the sum of N10, 000 to the suspect’s bank account. She sent him 750 MTN recharge card which he said are the condition she must fulfill to claim the prize.”

Explaining why he committed the crime, Okhiria said: “I am 19 years old and I am from Irua. I could not further my education because of lack of money. When I dropped out from school, I decided to acquire a skill and in the process I was unable to pay my house rent. I approached my friends to assist me in paying my house rent; the money was N18, 000.

“When I met them, they discouraged me from acquiring a skill; that I should instead join them in the game they play.

“They said the only help they could render me was allowing me to join their game of sending fake messages to people. They put my phone on the message and they sent it to random numbers. Some calls came in and some of them insulted me, cursed me and told me that I should go and look for good job. This discouraged me from continuing.

“So I met my friends and told them that there is so much insults and curses on the business and that I am no longer interested and that they should remove my line. Later on, a girl called my line and she said her name was Bimbo and she said she would like to claim her prize. I told her to send N750 recharge card to me and transfer N10, 000 into my friend’s account. It was when my friend was going to the bank to withdraw the money that he got arrested.

“In our group, we have those who act as bankers, old man in order to authenticate the business and make it believable. The business we do is called NNPC. I lied to the victim that got me arrested that I am an old man with three children. In order to convince the victims, I say things like: “Hello, Bimbo make sure you pay this money because if you don’t, you won’t be able to claim your prize. I raise my voice whenever I talk in order to avoid suspicion.

“I didn’t know anything about this business. My friends; Godwin and Timothy introduced me into it. Godwin has travelled out to Italy with the proceeds he got from the business and Timothy died as a result of accident.”

He, however, pleaded for forgiveness, promising never to commit any crime again.

Continuing, he said: “I am urging others who do this kind of business to stop. They should repent of their sins. I am begging that the police should forgive me.”

Also paraded were Awuzie Okechukwu, 30 and Simon Ejinalu, 47.

Speaking on how they were arrested, the CP said: “We will continue to stress the need for continuous clampdown and impounding of motorcycles operating in the Federal Capital Territory which have been discovered to be used to perpetuate crime by criminally-minded persons.

“On December 4, a two-man robbery gang which specialises in hibernating around banking areas to monitor and single out their victims who are mostly bank customers who withdrew large sums of money, was intercepted and arrested by the police.

“The suspects monitored and followed up their victim after he emerged from the banking hall of one of the banks in Maitama to his car. They smartly placed a nail which gradually deflated the tyre while he was on motion. This forced him to stop and check the tyre. The suspect then took advantage of the situation to pull off the bag containing the cash from the car and sped off on their bike.

Admitting to the crime, Okechukwu said: “I am from Imo State and I am new in Abuja. I came to Abuja because I don’t have anybody to help me and my family. I decided to come and steal because it seems to be the fastest way to make money. I was able to do this because the money was in our victim’s car. He stopped and then we grabbed the money (N1, 000,000).

“I am sorry about the mistake I made. I am begging for forgiveness. I don’t have anybody to help me and my five children and that is why I am into this.”

Also speaking, Ejinalu said: “We came to Abuja to steal. Some of our brothers reside in Abuja. We called them and they told us that Abuja is good and that there is money but when we came, we did not see them and that is why we dressed and entered town.

“We saw the victim and stole his money. We saw the nylon bag containing the money in his car and we decided to steal it. We used our bike to do it.

“I regret doing this but it is because I have family and no money to take care of them.”